Poacher hunting rhinos 'trampled to death by elephant and body eaten by lions'

A poacher hunting rhinos in a huge game reserve was trampled to death by an elephant and eaten by a pride of lions .

The dad was part of a group of poachers in Kruger NatiLonal Park (KNP), South Africa, on Wednesday.

It is believed they alarmed the elephant who charged at the victim near Crocodile Bridge, deep in the reserve.

The lions then mauled the man, and reportedly left "very little remains".

Don English, another member of the group which fled in fear, has aided police in the investigation.

And Kruger National Park (KNP) has today paid tribute to the victim, who has young daughters.

Glenn Phillips, managing executive of the reserve, said: "Entering the Kruger illegally and on foot is not wise as it holds very many dangers and this incident is clear evidence of that.

The man who has not been named was among a group of poachers (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Revealed: Cowardly hunter who shot sleeping lion in the back  

"It was very sad to see the daughters of the deceased man mourning the loss of their father, and worse still, only being able to recover very little of his remains."

Last year at least three poachers were eaten by a lion pride last year at the Sibuya Game Reserve in Eastern Province, South Africa after they broke into the park to hunt rhino.

Elephants in Kruger National Park became startled at the group's presence (Getty Images)

Owner Nick Fox said a head and a number of bloodied parts and limbs were recovered along with just a single empty shoe and their high powered hunting rifles and an axe.

Mr Fox said: "We found enough body parts which suggest to us the lions ate at least three of them but it is thick bush out there and there could be more bodies out there.

There is a high density of lions in Kruger National Park, which covers more than12,000 square miles (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Wealthy Brit revealed as one of the most prolific trophy hunters in the world  

"They came heavily armed with enough food to last days so we suspect they were after all our rhinos but the lions are our watchers and guardians and they became the meal.

"We are of course saddened at any loss of life but these men came to kill our animals and this sends out a powerful message to poachers that you will not always be the winner."

The Kruger National Park is South Africa’s biggest reserve in the country and covers over 12,000 square miles and is home to the Big Five of rhino, elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard.

A South African Police Service spokesperson confirmed four men were in custody and they are investigating a fatality.